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Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Herod

Bible Questions Answered:
I see in the New Testament that the name of Herod is used for different people, why is that?
Randy/ Los Angeles U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

In the gospels there were some four Herods.
Just as the Pharaoh's continued the name of a dynasty, so the Herodian family named each male child by their family name, Herod.

Herod: The Great/ Herod the Idumean.
He was the only ruler (Procurator) over Judea, under Roman occupation, appointed so by Julius Caesar, B.C. 47). It was Herod the Great, who slaughtered the infants of Bethlehem. Herod, The Great, had three sons...

Archelaus: (Ethnarch) Became the ruler over Judea, Idumea, and Samaria. Archelaus, was a builder of cities.

Antipas: Became the (Tetrarch) ruler of Galilee and Perea.
It was Herod who beheaded John the Baptist. It was to this Herod, that Pilate sent Jesus for his examination (Luke 23:).

Philip/ Herod Philip II: Became the (Tetrarch Luke 3:1) ruler of Batanea, Trachonitis, Gaulanitis, Auranitis, Iturea, and parts of Jamnia.etc. It was said of Philip, that he was the most respected of Herod's sons.







Bible Questions Answered: Palestine/ Canaan/ Holy Land

Bible Questions Answered:
Why is the land of Israel called Palestine?
Debby/ Houston, Texas U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Genesis 21:32 KJV
32...and they returned into the land of the Philistines*.
33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

*Philistine-Hebrew- Pelishtiy (Pel-ish-tee): Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth:-Philistine.
Abingdon's Strong's Concordance of the Bible.

The land was called Palestine, because it was the land of the Philistines.
Historian, Josephus, says that the whole area occupied by the Israelites, was known as Palestine.
The name “Philistia,” is the basis for the name Palestine. The Assyrians used the term as early as 800 B.C.

Palestine, means “land of the Philistines.” (Smith's Bible Dictionary)
The land of the Jews was also called Canaan.
Genesis 9:18 KJV
And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan*.

*Canaan-Hebrew-Kenaan (Ken-ah-an): Son of Ham (fourth); the country inhabited by him. Canaan, merchant, traffick. (Abingdon/Strong)

As a people, said to be “the progenitors of the Phoenicians, and of various nations who before the Israelite conquest peopled the seacoast of Palestine, and generally the whole of the country westward of Jordan.” (Smith's Bible Dictionary)

The land of Canaan given to the people of God.
Exodus 6:4 KJV
And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

This special land from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, is also called the Holy Land.
And it is so because of Zechariah's words...

Zechariah 2:12 KJV
And the LORD shall inherit Judah His portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.

This land is called the Holy Land because...
*) This land is the Lord's.
*) This land is sanctified, by His Holy Presence in the temple, and by the worship of His people.
*) This land is where the Son of God, gave His life for the lost.
*) This is the land to which the King of Glory shall one day return.

Psalm 24:7-10 KJV (Acts 1:9-11)
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Blind And Dumb Demoniac Healed.

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Blind And Dumb Demoniac Healed.

Bible Location: Capernaum.

Bible Text: Matthew 12:22,23 KJV (Luke 11:14)
22 Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?


Matthew 12:22
Then was brought unto Him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb:..

Dear friend, you and I have an enemy. Whether a man is saved and on his way to heaven or not, he has an enemy! Hear it and remember it, Satan has “no,” friends, regardless of what some may claim! Satan is on his way to eternal fiery judgment!

I Peter 5:7 KJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Our Saviour plainly taught us, that there is a way we can tell what a kind of person is before us!

Matthew 7:20 KJV
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

An apple, doesn't come from an lemon tree, nor a peach from a orange tree.
The fruit, itself, tells us what kind of a tree it came from!
So if we know the fruit, we know the tree (its source.)

Here brought to the Saviour was a man who was both, blind and mute.

Was this a work of God?
First we must ask ourselves, what kind of fruit was it?
The category of fruit, would by all, be labeled, evil, for a man has eyes to see, and is given a tongue to speak. Not to be able to do so, is bondage, and a curse, certainly not a blessing!

Evil fruit, comes from an evil tree, and in this case an evil one.

John 10:10,11 KJV
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
11 I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

The works of the enemy are ways of destruction, for both body and soul. As often has been said on these pages, Satan, hates mankind, with a fiery hatred, and why? Satan hates mankind, because when he looks upon humanity, he sees God, for man was created in the image of God, and God has both judged and sentenced him to the eternal lake of fire, so he hates God, and man.

Satan, binds men, giving them tremendous burdens, all while oppressing them, and putting yokes of bondage on them.

Luke 4:16-21 KJV (Isaiah 58:6)
16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto Him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And He closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on Him.
21 And He began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.


Matthew 12:22 KJV
“...and He healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.”

What was the fruit?
Deliverance, freedom, healing, etc.
And what of the tree? Certainly the Tree was one of righteousness, and goodness!
This is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has come to deliver us from the bondage of the enemy!

In every church, there should be prayers of faith, to see the bound of the enemy, delivered and set free! If your church doesn't have such prayers, may one go to his Pastor, and humbly with prayer, ask that such opportunity be given.

Our Lord's great commission to His followers, everywhere and to all afar off!

Mark 16:15-18 KJV
15 And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.
17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak in new languages.
18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them.

(Interpretation:
Oh how the enemy of the cross, like to destroy the great commission, due to this verse!
Would our dear Saviour ever encourage such activity? Absolutely not!

Matthew 4:5-7 KJV
5 Then the devil taketh Him up into the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple,
6 And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Our Saviour "never," did miraculous deeds as works of show!
To what then does this scripture refer?

Acts 28:1-6 (The Apostle Paul on his way to Rome, was shipwrecked.)
1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

This was not something that The Apostle sought, but that he came upon. And this is the truth of this verse, if calamity should come upon the messenger of God, God will keep him!

Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Romans 8:35,37 KJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.)

They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”


Acts 2:39 KJV (Christ's promise of His Spirit of power, given to His People.)
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.


Matthew 12:23 KJV
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

The people wished to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, of whom the Prophets had spoke.
To eradicate such wishful thinking, the ever present, Pharisees, said Jesus had performed the miracle by the power of the devil.


Matthew 12:24 KJV
But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

Certainly as our Saviour told us, wherever the work of God is, there the enemy comes to snatch away the seed that has been planted.

Matthew 13:19 KJV
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

To the believing child of God, belongs the victory:

Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

I John 5:4,5 KJV
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Bible Lesson: Thanksgiving Abraham Lincoln

Bible Lesson: Thanksgiving Abraham Lincoln

Every fourth Thursday, in November, America celebrates Thanksgiving day.
This celebration dates back to 1621 at Plymouth, Massachusetts. After their first year in America, the Puritan Pilgrims who had sailed from England, gave thanks for their crops and homes.

Canada, celebrates Thanksgiving day, the second Monday, of October.

Abraham Lincoln, America's 16th president (1861-1865), was killed by an assassins bullet. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln wrote the following

Proclamations of Thanksgiving

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by His divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced, by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

Abraham Lincoln, March 1863

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my Fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.

Abraham Lincoln, October 1863

The Word of the Lord:

I Chronicles 16:8-12 KJV
8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the people.
9 Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works.
10 Glory ye in His holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
11 Seek the LORD and His strength, seek His face continually.
12 Remember His marvelous works that He hath done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth;

Psalm 50:14 KJV
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High:

Psalm 92:1 KJV
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, o Most High.

Psalm 100:4 KJV
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.

Psalm 107:22 KJV
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.

Ephesians 5:20 KJV
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Colossians 1:11,12 KJV
11... May you be filled with joy,
12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.

Colossians 3:15;17 KJV
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Giving Thanks to the Lord, before eating:
I Timothy 4:4 NLT
4 Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.
5 For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

Giving Thanks to the Lord, After having eaten:
Deuteronomy 8:10 NLT
When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.

Do you have a national day of Thanksgiving in your country, if not, would you start one?

Colossians 3:23,24 KJV
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Submission-Godly

Bible Questions Answered:
Why is it some churches are so liberal in their customs of dress, music, and social liberties?
Karen/ Brooklyn, New York

Bible Answer:
How easy it is for us to forget the spiritual meaning of our baptism.

Romans 6:3 KJV
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?

Galatians 2:20 KJV
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 3:27 KJV
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Not to live the “Christ-Life,” is nothing short of rebellion.

I Samuel 15:23 KJV
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry...

Isaiah 45:9 KJV
“Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!..."

Matthew 6:9,10 KJV
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

James 4:7 KJV
"Submit yourselves therefore to God..."

The Christian life is filled with decisions, decisions, should we do things God's way, or the way that we think is right?

Here is a couple of Levitical Priests that made that decision, the decision to do things their own way in the church.

Leviticus 10:1-3 NLT
1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners (not fire from the altar of burnt offerings/nor utensils of the golden altar.) and sprinkled incense over them (incense was to be offered only at the golden altar, twice daily by the selected priest). In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before Him the wrong kind of fire, different than He had commanded.
2 So fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when He said,‘I will display My holiness through those who come near Me. I will display My glory before all the people.’”And Aaron was silent.

The error of Moses.

Numbers 20:2-13 NLT
2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses and Aaron.
3 The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!
4 Why have you brought the congregation of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to die, along with all our livestock?
5 Why did you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the glorious presence of the Lord appeared to them,
7 and the Lord said to Moses,
8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and their livestock.”
9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the Lord.
10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we (No glory to God.)bring you water from this rock?”
11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice (Work of Moses.) with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me enough to demonstrate My holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
13 This place was known as the waters of Meribah (which means “arguing”) because there the people of Israel argued with the Lord, and there He demonstrated His holiness among them.

In Numbers 16 we read of three Levites named Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with some 250 of their followers, who made a big mistake.

I Samuel 3:11-14/ 4:12-18, we read about the judgment of Eli and his sons.

Oh, how careful we must be to follow the words of our living God.
Our obedience to God, may never be based upon our feelings, popularity and or acceptance.

Job all his life reverenced the Lord.

Job 1:19-21 KJV
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Matthew 26:39 KJV (Our Saviour.)
And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Psalm 119:10-12 KJV
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV (Again, 13:32)
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

Proverbs 30:6 KJV
Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Revelation 22:18,19 KJV
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

We must not be just hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word.

James 1:19-27 NLT
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.
24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.
25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Leviticus 11:45 KJV (I Peter 1:16)
"... be holy, for I am holy."

II Corinthians 7:1 KJV
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hebrews 12:14 KJV
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

I Peter 2:9 KJV
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

We will not one day answer for the errors of others, but we will answer to God, for our own decisions.
May our decision be, to live as near to our blessed Saviour and His Word, as we can. At the end of day, we will not regret that we have.

Colossians 3:12-17 KJV
12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Magi-Why Did They Travel To Find Jesus?

Bible Questions Answered
Why did the Magi travel to find the baby Jesus?
Kaiala/ Sao Paulo, Brazil South America

Bible Answer:

The Magi, were Israel's equivalent of the Levites, i.e. they were of a priestly tribe of the Medes.
They as learned men, who knew secrets of nature, that made them appear as magicians before the people.
The Magi, were a group from the castes of the Mede's, which had spurned idolatry, and longed for a more complete knowledge of God, information, which they sought from the Jews.

These men in their pilgrimage to find God, had seen a sign of a king coming into the world, which appeared to them as a star in the east. This star lead them to Jerusalem, and to King Herod, then disappeared.

Matthew 1:1,2 NLT
1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
2 “Where is the newborn King of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.”

Heord, knew not of any other king, but desired to know any information they might find out.
The determined travelers, then inquired of the priests and they told them, the child was to be born in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:3-8 NLT
3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem.
4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” (Micah 5:2)
7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.
8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the Child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too!”

After this meeting the star reappeared to them, leading them to Bethlehem, and to the very spot where the Child King, lay.

What was this star, was it some planet alignment, or special astronomical body? No. The book of Revelation plainly tells us that at least one angel, may appear as a star from heaven!

Revelation 9:1 KJV
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.

An angel of God, had guided the Wise Men, to the Bethlehem manger.

But, why had they come, out of curiosity?
No, they had come to worship Him, as do all wise men.

Matthew 2:9-12 NLT
9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
11 They entered the house and saw the Child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

The Gold that they brought, spoke of gifts for a King.
The Frankincense (A brittle resin/gum from the Lebonah tree, used for incense burning, it has a sweet fragrance.), spoke of their adoration of Him as the Son of God.
Their gift of Myrrh, (A gum substance from the Balsamodendron Myrrha plant. A fragrant resin, used for medical reasons and embalming.), prefigured the passion, and suffering this King would endure.

Psalm 95:6 KJV
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Revelation 4:1-11 NLT
1 Then as I looked, I saw a door standing open in heaven, and the same voice I had heard before spoke to me like a trumpet blast. The voice said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.”
2 And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and Someone sitting on it.
3 The One sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled His throne like a rainbow.
4 Twenty-four thrones surrounded Him, and twenty-four elders sat on them. They were all clothed in white and had gold crowns on their heads.
5 From the throne came flashes of lightning and the rumble of thunder. And in front of the throne were seven torches with burning flames. This is the sevenfold Spirit of God.
6 In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back.
7 The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight.
8 Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the One who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
9 Whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever),
10 the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the One sitting on the throne (the One who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”


Friday, November 19, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Sorrow Of The Lord Matthew 26:38

Bible Questions Answered:
Jesus said that His soul was “...exceeding sorrowful, even unto death...” did He fear death that much?
Jerome/ Waterloo, Canada

Bible Text:

Matthew 26:36-39 KJV
36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38 Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.
39 And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Our Lord's soul was not sorrowful over His coming death, He had come to do the Father's will.

John 12:27 KJV
Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

What had made the Saviour sorrowful was...

1.) Jesus had called Judas His friend, and yet He knew it was he who had betrayed Him. Can there be any doubt, that the sin of Judas brought sorrow to our Lord?

Matthew 26:47-50 KJV
47 And while He yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed Him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is He: hold Him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed Him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.

2.) After the Lord's apprehension, not only would the disciples be scattered, but Peter would deny his Lord.

Matthew 26:55,56 KJV
55 In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on Me.
56 But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook Him, and fled.

Matthew 26:69-75 KJV
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech betrayeth thee.
74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the Man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

3.) The lost state of the nation of Israel caused our Saviour much sorrow.

Luke 19:41 KJV
And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it,

Luke 13:34,35 KJV (Christ's lament.) (Mother love of Christ!)
34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord.

4) And the coming destruction of Jerusalem, brought much sorrow to the Lord. (Destruction under, Roman Emperor Titus, 70 A.D.)

Luke 19:41-44 KJV
41 And when He was come near, He beheld the city (Jerusalem), and wept over it,
42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

- - - - - -

Matthew 26:38 KJV
Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.

Our Saviour, a man acquainted with sorrow.

Isaiah 53:1-12 KJV
1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
4 Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare His generation? for He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was He stricken.
9 And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall my Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for
the transgressors.

Hebrews 2:17,18 ESV
17 Therefore He (Christ) had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18 For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.



Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Lamb Of God

Bible Questions Answered:
Why was Jesus called the Lamb of God?
Terence/ Manila, Philippines

Bible Answer:

First of all let it be said, because of the humility of Christ.

Isaiah 53:7 KJV
He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.

Zechariah 9:9 NLT
9 Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your King is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious,yet He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

Matthew 11:29 KJV
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

John 13:5 KJV
After that He poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

II Corinthians 10:1 KJV
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:8 KJV
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

I Peter 2:23 KJV
Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:

From before the beginning God knew a great sacrifice would be required to atone for the dark sins of mankind.

Genesis 3:6-8 KJV
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Adam and Eve's fig leaf covering, having lost the glorious Shechinah of God, was a failed attempt to cover sin.

Genesis 3:15,21 NLT (God's prophetic decree.)
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”
21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

The promise of redemption, would come at a great cost for God's Son, who would be struck by the serpent.
Adam and Eve in their sin, brought about the need for the first bloody sacrifice, which God performed, so that their body and their sins could be covered (Adam and Eve passed this sacrifice, on to their sons Cain and Abel.)

Revelation 13:8 KJV
"... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

Genesis 22:7-14 NLT (Christ prefigured in Isaac.)
7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”
8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it.
Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood.
10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice.
11 At that moment the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”
12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from Me even your son, your only son.”
13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son.
14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”).
To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Psalm 85:2 KJV
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

Bloody sacrifices which prefigured the coming Messiah's sacrifice, were only a covering for sin, but now our Lord's perfect sacrifice, cleanses from sin.

John 1:29,36 KJV
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
36 And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

I John 1:7,9 KJV
7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 1:5,6 KJV
5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the Faithful Witness, and the First Begotten of the Dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 1:3-5 KJV
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

I Peter 2:21-25 KJV
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth:
23 Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

I John 2:2 NLT
He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.


Sunday, November 14, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Called Or Chosen?

Bible Questions Answered:
Jesus said, many are called but few are chosen. What is the difference between being called and chosen?
Bryan/ Seattle, Washington

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:

Matthew 20:16 KJV (Jesus)
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 22:1-14 KJV (Jesus)
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The clear reference given to us from our Lord's parable of the marriage of the Kings son, is that
the difference between called, and chosen, was (as it is today,) based solely upon the recipients decision to accept the invitation or to neglect it.

To refuse the invitation, was not to be chosen.
To accept the invitation was to be chosen.

In either case all were called.

Albert Einstein once said, regarding the order of the cosmos, “God does not throw dice.”
And may it be so added that in the salvation of men, neither does He throw dice regarding the salvation of men!

The Word of the Lord:

Isaiah 45:22 KJV
Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 55:1 KJV
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Ezekiel 33:11 KJV
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Luke 12:28 KJV
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God:

John 4:14 KJV
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37 KJV
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 10:43 KJV
To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.

Romans 5:18 Geneva Bible
18 Likewise then, as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation, so by the justifying of one, the benefit abounded toward all men to the justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many also be made righteous

Romans 10:12,13 KJV
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:11,12 KJV
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I John 2:23 KJV
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

I John 5:1 KJV
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.

II John 9 KJV
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Revelation 3:20 KJV
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.

Revelation 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Man has choice:

Exodus 32:26 KJV
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Deuteronomy 26:17-19 NLT
17 You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in His ways, and to obey His decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything He tells you.
18 The Lord has declared today that you are His people, His own special treasure, just as He promised, and that you must obey all His commands.
19 And if you do, He will set you high above all the other nations He has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as He promised.”

Deuteronomy 32:19 KJV
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Joshua 24:15 KJV
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Ruth 1:16 KJV (Ruth to Naomi.)
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

I Kings 18:21;38,39 KJV
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God.

Psalm 31:14 KJV
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.

Psalm 119:30 KJV
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.

Isaiah 65:12-15 NLT
12 now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword. All of you will bow down before the executioner. For when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned—before My very eyes— and chose to do what you know I despise.”
13 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “My servants will eat, but you will starve. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be sad and ashamed.
14 My servants will sing for joy, but you will cry in sorrow and despair.
15 Your name will be a curse word among My people, for the Sovereign Lord will destroy you and will call His true servants by another name.

Hebrews 11:24,25 KJV
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Almighty God, knew the end from the beginning.
He knew those who would turn to Him, and those He called.

Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:

Romans 8:28-30 Geneva Bible
28 Also we know that all things work together for the best unto them that love God, even to them that are called of His purpose.
29 For those which He knew before, He also predestinate to be made like to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestinate, them also He called, and whom He called, them also He justified, and whom He justified, them He also glorified.

Romans 8:28,29 NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
29 For God knew His people in advance (The foreknowledge of the "All Knowing," God), and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.

Have you chosen the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour?
If you do, you will become, not only called, but the chosen of the Father.
Born again, a child of God.

John 1:12 KJV
But as many as received Him (The Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:


Friday, November 12, 2010

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Demoniac Of Gadara Healed.

Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus; Demoniac Of Gadara Cured.

Bible Location: Gergesa (East side of Galilee.)

(Most of this story has already been covered under the blog: Demoniacs Of Gadara be sure to go and read it.

Bible Text: Mark (Preface: 4:35-41)5:1-20 KJV (Matthew 8:28-34/ Luke 8:26-40 KJV)
1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.
9 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, my name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought Him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17 And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts.
18 And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him.
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Mark 4:35-41 (if you have not read this happening just before our Lord's arriving at Gadara, stop and read this first.) Look for this story under Miracles Of Jesus-Tempest Calmed .


Mark 5:1 KJV
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

Satan, had done his best to capsize our Lord and His disciples, midst the sea of Galilee. He knew only to well what a testimony the Gadarene, would have, once delivered.

Dear Christian friend, when God has called you to do something, and the evil one comes out against you, how flattering to know by his actions, that your potential to do good for the Kingdom of God is great, so much so that he has come out against you, to dissuade you!

Mark 4:39 KJV
And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Have faith in God, and He will do the same for you!


Mark 5:2-5 KJV
2 And when He was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

First of all, let us make an interesting observation.
There are some 17 references to the unclean spirit being one, and again, some 4 as being many (as many as a legion, which was a subdivision of the Roman army, which could be as many as 6,ooo soldiers, we later learn in this case, 2,000 unclean spirits (Mark 5:13),
possessing this man.)

Marks of the possessed man:

* Possessed with a legion of unclean spirits.
* Lived among the tombs/ A melancholy spirit that savored the things of sadness, depression,
and death.
* Could not be bound, not even with chains, super human strength. Ask any law enforcement
officer who has been on the job for awhile, he will tell you, the super human strength of some
criminals.
* Day and night, this man knew “no,” rest.
* Day and night among the tombs with the preoccupation of death.
* Day and night, crying, and why? Answer, Mark 5:7, facing coming judgment.
* Day and night cutting himself, Why? Satan hates mankind, every time Satan looks at man, he
sees God, for mankind, though fallen, has been created in the image of God.

The wicked, know no rest:

Isaiah 48:22 KJV
There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 57:20,21 KJV
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

Jude 13 KJV
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

This pastor can't help but read this definition, and think of some of the rock and roll groups in this world today. Body piercing and tattooing their bodies , all one would have to do is to take this description and read it when looking at their pictures, or listen to their wailing laments of their chains of sin.
Oh, if only the liberated demoniac of Gadra, could but come and speak!


Mark 5:6-8 KJV
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshiped him,
7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.
8 For He said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

The possessed man, ran to meet Jesus.

James 2:19 KJV
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Evil spirits, may be evil, but they are not idiots, they knew only too well that Jesus is God's Son.
And they begged Jesus, for His mercy, not to be sent to their punishment before their time.

Only evil man, has no fear of judgment, refusing to bow and confess that Jesus is the Christ, the very eternal Son of God.


Mark 5:9-13 KJV
9 And He asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, my name is Legion: for we are many.
10 And he besought Him much that He would not send them away out of the country.
11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.
12 And all the devils besought Him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

The unclean spirits being many (Only one of Satan's many, many armies), yet spoke with one voice.
They begged to be sent into the nearby herd of swine.

Would Jesus, condescend to a host of evil, albeit beseeching spirits? …......
Yes.

These spirits already had reserved for them a time and place at God's Great White Throne Judgment.
Condemned already, as being evil, and yet, Jesus the merciful God that He is, permitted the spirits to go into the swine. Better the death of swine than men.

Psalm 108:4 KJV
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
The unclean spirits having possessed the swine, drove them down into the sea, and drown them.

John 8:44 KJV (Jesus told the unbelieving Jews.)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 10:10 KJV (Jesus said.)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


Mark 5:14-17 KJV
14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.
15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.
17 And they began to pray Him to depart out of their coasts.

A person liberated from possessing evil spirits, knows peace, modesty, and sanity!

The swine owners, were both frightened, and angry, “leave our coasts,” they reprimanded Jesus, considering the lost swine of more valuable, than the delivered demoniac, or the Lord of Glory.

And the heart of lost men today, is certainly no less evil.


Mark 5:18-20 KJV
18 And when He was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him.
19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

After Jesus had entered the ship with His disciples to leave, the former demoniac/ Legion, begged the Lord, to be able to go with Him, in essence, become one of His disciples.
Jesus' reply was no, and the reason was, he was to tell his story to all his former friends, who would behold a miracle in the flesh.

And the good news of the gospel dear friend, is that our Lord still delivers from the yoke of the enemy today!

Isaiah 42:6,7 KJV
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee...
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 58:6-9 KJV
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the Glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am...

Isaiah 61:1 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

Mark 16:18 KJV
They...shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Luke 4:18 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power...over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Trying Spirits

Bible Questions Answered:
So what does this mean to interrogate spirits?
Stepan/ Moscow, Russia

Bible Answer:
Whether it be spirits or men, the test is the same, “what does a person, confess concerning Jesus Christ, has He indeed come in the flesh?”

Bible Text:
I John 4:1-3;15 KJV
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

Those who do not confess that Christ, God's Eternal Son has come in the flesh, are anti-Christ.

II John 6-11 NLT
6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and He has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world.
They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist.
8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.
10 If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ,
don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement.
11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work.

I Kings 22:20-23 NLT (Ahab, wicked seventh King of Israel, judged.)
20 And the Lord said, ‘Who can entice Ahab to go into battle against Ramoth-gilead so he can be killed?’ “There were many suggestions,
21 and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’
22 “‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak lies.'“‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’
23 “So you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all your prophets.
For the Lord has pronounced your doom.”

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Galatians 1:7-9 KJV
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Colossians 2:13-19 KJV
13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ,for He forgave all our sins.
14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
15 In this way, He disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by His victory over them on the cross.
16 So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.
17 For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ Himself is that reality.
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
19 and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For He holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.

II Thessalonians 2:7-12 KJV
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I Timothy 4:1-5 KJV
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

II Peter 2:1,2 KJV
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Humanity of Christ:

John 1:14 -18 KJV
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.
16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.

I Timothy 2:5,6 KJV
5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Hebrews 2:14-18 KJV
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:14-16 KJV
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

The Gospel:

I Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Bible Questions Answered: Abomination Of Desolation

Bible Questions Answered:
Daniel spoke of the abomination of desolation, where and what is this?
Lawrence/ Toronto, Canada

Bible Answer:

Text:
Matthew 24:15 KJV
When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Daniels reference was of a prophecy, of at least four such desecrations:

1)
First abomination of desolation, was under Babylonian King Neuchadnezzar.
In 586 B.C. After an 18 month siege he destroyed Jerusalem, carrying away its temple treasures, while taking its young princes, and many people, to Babylon.

2)
Syrian King, Atiochus Epiphanes IV (175-163 B.C.) son of Antiochus the Great.
Antiochus with his Chief Officer Apollonius, with 20.000 soldiers (who had an extreme hatred toward the Jews.) took Jerusalem by force (167 B.C.) to occupy it. The temple was desecrated and any observance of the law was forbidden. The Syrians then availed them selves of the opportunity to set up their god Jupiter Olympius on the altar.
3)
Fulfilled again in 70 A.D. When Roman guards stormed the Jewish temple of Jerusalem. Roman Emperor Titus sacked Jerusalem, destroying it. His army had as their ensigns delineations of their gods, emperors, and eagles, that they worshiped. This again was an abomination in the temple of God.

4) Quoting Daniel, Jesus warned of a yet future Abomination of Desolation:

Matthew 24:15-25 KJV (Mark 13:14-27 KJV)
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.

Daniel yet prophecies the coming of an influential world leader, who will make a seven year peace pact with Israel, assuring her peace and safety. During that time, she will undertake the rebuilding of her temple, but midst the seven year peace pact, this world leader, will break his agreement, and place his image in the holy of holies of the Jewish temple, to be worshiped.
All to late, Israel will learn this world leader, far from a messiah will be found not only to be Anti-Christ but Anti-God, as well.
Daniel 9:27 NLT
The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him.”

Daniel 9:27 KJV
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Revelation 13:11-17 KJV
11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb (False Prophet), and he spake as a dragon.
12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast (Anti-Christ) before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.